Kirkus calls FINDING FORGIVENESS by Marta Bartolj “a straightforward and effectively and affectionately drawn tale of youngsters making amends”

In this wordless picture book, a conflict between friends sets them on a winding path to reconciliation.

The young protagonist catches and cages a lovely little bluebird. The child’s friend visits and, while feeding the bird, accidentally lets it fly away. The protagonist angrily stomps off. Walking through town, the child notices other disputes and their resolutions. A kid tramples through a flower bed and then helps the owner replant. A dog gets loose and interrupts a picnic; its owner helps clean up the mess and joins the picnic-goers. Eventually, the protagonist’s heart softens. Following a good night’s sleep, the child forgives the contrite friend’s honest mistake, and together they find a resolution that pleases them both and gives the bluebird—who’s since returned—the freedom to fly as well. Bartolj depicts an idyllic vision of small-town life, filled with playgrounds, ponds, and pets. Speckled scenery, soft lines, and muted brushwork add to the aura of calm. The whole book is infused with a deep sense of community—families walk together, kids play in groups, and even ducks and other birds fly in pairs. Life, mistakes and all, is best lived together, Bartolj suggests. The protagonist is blond and light-skinned, the friend is darker-skinned and dark-haired, and their neighborhood is diverse.

A straightforward and effectively and affectionately drawn tale of youngsters making amends. (Picture book. 3-8)